Splashy Carlos Lee addition something different in a Marlins July

That was in 2006, when the Marlins' front office was in no hurry to do then-manager Joe Girardi any favors.

The year before that, it was situational lefty Ron Villone who had to serve as the Marlins' splashy trade-deadline acquisition for Jack McKeon.

"Big Rig" came from Seattle, as did fellow LOOGY — Lefty One Out Guy — Arthur Rhodes in 2008.

Rhodes arrived as Fredi Gonzalez's consolation prize after the Marlins flirted with a three-team mega-deal that would have brought them a still-in-his-prime Manny Ramirez.

All that would have cost them was a Class A outfielder with some pop. Kid named Mike Stanton.

The following year, July 2009, it was oft-injured Nick Johnson who was brought in to play first base, where he hit just two homers over the final two months.

It is against that backdrop that we must view this week's deal for veteran slugger Carlos Lee.

When it comes to traditional July additions during the Jeffrey Loria era, there isn't much competition for this future-is-now move.

Will the Marlins come to regret trading away young third baseman Matt Dominguez, their former first-round draft pick?

It's unlikely but possible, especially if they sour on Hanley Ramirez at some point in the final 2 1/2 years of his contract.

But if Lee hits the way he once did, well enough to earn a $100 million deal from the Astros, no one will care that the Marlins gave up a slick-fielding corner man. Just as no real Marlins fan regrets dealing away Adrian Gonzalez nine years ago this month in a deal that brought in Ugueth Urbina to solidify what became a championship bullpen.

The Urbina deal went down on July 11, after McKeon got tired of stretching his starters too far during a series at Wrigley Field.

This time, the Marlins acted almost a full week earlier to save Ozzie Guillen the indignity of having to write Gaby Sanchez's name onto the lineup card.

Enter Lee.

"The guy knows how to hit," Ozzie said of a player he managed for one year in Chicago. "He knows how to hit with people on base. He can give you a lot of lift."

While Lee should add some oomph to the Marlins' offense, which also should get Emilio Bonifacio back from a thumb injury after the All-Star break, he'll probably be a drag defensively. Sanchez had made himself into an above-average defender at first.

This move apparently keeps Logan Morrison and his balky knee in left field, a huge expanse at Marlins Park. (To say nothing of those potential distractions at The Clevelander.)

Bringing in a different bat — like, say, the Padres' Carlos Quentin — to play left would have enabled Morrison to move permanently back to first base, where his bat would probably benefit as well from the reduced defensive strain.

Then again, after a sizzling return from knee surgery, Quentin had produced just two extra-base hits since June 18. No doubt that pushed the Marlins in Lee's direction as well.

While the Padres appear intent on dragging out the Quentin auction until the end of July, Lee was available now, with the wildly inconsistent Marlins teetering 4 1/2 games from the second wild-card spot.

Lee would have been a Dodger if he could have persuaded his family to move to Los Angeles. That idea didn't fly in the Lee household, so the Marlins are the beneficiaries.

If, that is, the 36-year-old slugger can relocate his missing power stroke.

Even if he can't, even if Lee remains a shadow of his former All-Star self, at least he brings a viable threat to the middle of the Marlins' lineup. And while the Marlins must pay him just the pro-rated minimum the rest of the way, Lee joins Jose Reyes to give this franchise a pair of $100 million players.